Seniors

Consider the following recommendations to ensure your plan best meets your needs:

Create an emergency support network: You don't want to go through an emergency alone. Ask at least two people to be in your network — family members, friends, neighbors, caregivers, coworkers, or members of community groups. Remember, you will help each other in emergencies. Your emergency support network should:

Contact your medical supply company for information regarding a back-up power source, such as a battery.

Follow the manufacturer's directions when installing and using the equipment.

Check with local fire and building officials for regulations governing generator and fuel use.

Ask your utility company if the medical equipment qualifies you to be listed as a life-sustaining equipment customer or if you are eligible to register for a priority power restoration program.

If you or anyone in your home depends on electrically-powered life-sustaining medical equipment (such as a ventilator or cardiac device), receives dialysis or has limited mobility, there are specific steps you should take to prepare for a coastal storm. Learn more from the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene

If you rely on oxygen, talk to your vendor about emergency replacements.

Take time to plan on how you will talk to friends or emergency workers in an emergency. During an emergency, your normal way of communicating may be affected by changes in environment, noise or confusion. Know how and what you will need to communicate during an emergency.

Ready New York: My Emergency Plan

Ready New York: My Emergency Plan is a workbook designed to assist New Yorkers with disabilities or access and functional needs create an emergency plan. My Emergency Plan walks users through establishing a support network, capturing important health information, planning for evacuation, and gathering emergency supplies. First responders or caregivers can also use the workbook to help people during an emergency.

Stay Informed

One of the best ways to be prepared for an emergency is to stay informed.

Notify NYC

Notify NYC, the City of New York's official source of information about emergency events and important City services, will alert New Yorkers if there is an emergency in your area. Notify NYC messages are available through email, text messages, telephone, the Notify NYC website, RSS, Twitter, and, in many cases, American Sign Language videos on YouTube.

The Ready NYC mobile application for Apple and Android gives you the power to be prepared by allowing you to make and store an emergency plan on your mobile device, and share your plan with your support network.

The Advance Warning System is designed to disseminate hazard and emergency information to agencies and organizations that serve people with disabilities or others with access and functional needs throughout New York City. The program is managed by NYC Emergency Management and the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene.

Evacuation and Sheltering

Transportation Considerations

Before an emergency, call 311 to locate accessible transportation options. These can include the MTA subways and buses, Access-A-Ride, and accessible taxis. To locate additional information about accessible transportation for people with disabilities access and functional needs, visit www.mta.info.

According to the MTA, there are nearly 6,000 accessible buses that provide service and 109 accessible subway stations. Accessible subway stations include features such as elevators, ramps, and tactile warning strips.

Those who are unable to travel on the MTA subways and buses can use Access-A-Ride if they qualify. This service is a shared-ride service and can transport individuals door-to-door.

Accessible taxis are available through the accessible dispatch system, and there are five ways to book an accessible taxi. To find out more information about these services, visit NYC.gov/mopd.

If these options do not meet your needs and you require immediate assistance, call 911.

Evacuation Transportation for People with Disabilities and Others with Access or Functional Needs

When the Mayor has issued an evacuation order due to a coastal storm or hurricane, people with disabilities or other access or functional needs, who have no other options to evacuate safely, can request transportation assistance.

Depending on your need, you will either be taken to:

An accessible evacuation center in an accessible vehicle, OR

A hospital outside of the evacuation zone via ambulance.

You may not be able to request transportation to a specific address.

Specific instructions about which areas of the City should be evacuated will be communicated through various channels. If you live or are staying in an evacuation zone and your zone is ordered to evacuate, leave as soon as you can.

Use public transportation to evacuate if possible. When considering your transportation route, be aware that public transportation, including MTA's Access-A-Ride, may shut down hours before the storm arrives.

Sheltering Considerations

When an emergency strikes, it is important to seek safe shelter. Some emergencies may require you to shelter in place, while other emergencies may require evacuation. Be ready to explain to first responders and emergency workers that you need to evacuate and how you will need to be assisted.

In the event of a coastal storm or hurricane, the City may open evacuation centers for those are unable to stay with family or friends outside the evacuation zone. For a list of evacuation centers near you, including accessible evacuation centers, visit the Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder online at NYC.gov/knowyourzone, or call 311.

Plan for Power Disruptions

Ask your utility company whether your medical equipment qualifies you to be listed as a life-sustaining equipment customer (LSE), or whether you are eligible to register for a priority power restoration program. For those who rely on electric-powered medical equipment at home (e.g., respirators, dialysis machines, apnea monitors), please register with your utility provider so you can be contacted in the event of an emergency.

While registering with your utility provider is an important preparedness step, people who use electric-powered medical equipment should have an emergency plan. Consider the following:

An alternate source of electric power, such as a battery back-up system.

If using a generator be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, local building codes, and ensure that it's in a well-ventilated area.

Include variety of telephone options (land-line, cordless, cellular) if possible.

Customers with life-sustaining equipment registered with providers will receive priority during outages, but if it takes more than a couple of days to restore power, it is important to be independent and have a back-up source of electric power, such as a battery. Before the power goes out, make sure to charge all medical and communications devices.

If you rely on oxygen, talk to your vendor about emergency replacements. In the event that you do not have access to oxygen, call 911 for immediate assistance.

If you or anyone in your home depends on electrically-powered life-sustaining medical equipment (such as a ventilator or cardiac device), receives dialysis or has limited mobility, there are specific steps you should take to prepare for a coastal storm. Learn more from the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene

Depending on your provider, other programs may be available if you need extra time to pay your utility bill due to medical conditions.

If utilities are included in your rent, you are still eligible to register for this program directly with the utility company.

Register with Your Utility Provider

If you are a Con Edison customer (serving all of NYC except the Rockaways), you may register by calling 1-800-752-6633 (TTY: 1-800-642-2308). For more information, visit Con Edison's special services website.

If you are a PSEG-LI customer (serving the Rockaways), you may register by calling 1-800-490-0025 (TTY: 1-631-755-6660). For more information, visit PSEG's Critical Care program online.

If you are a National Grid NYC customer (serving Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island), call 718-643-4050 (or dial 711 for New York State Relay Service). Customers can also visit National Grid online.

If you are a National Grid Long Island customer (serving the Rockaways), call 1-800-930-5003. Customers can also visit National Grid online.